Ugly Ducklings

[ladyfreckles]

After the vet check went through and everything looks good I bought my filly.

She was gorgeous as a yearling, even a long yearling, and a beautiful foal. Couldn’t believe my luck, finally a horse that didn’t seem to go through an ugly phase. I knew she’d get over it so I bought her regardless of the phase she’s going through now. People still think she’s cute but conformation wise she’s at a really weird stage. Short body, short face, semi-short neck, high up rear and a small muzzle. A lot of people talk about the butt being high up but never the facial changes.

I know there are some older threads about this in 2010 and 2011 but I didn’t want to bump them. Care to share your uglies? Stories of turning into swans?

[Beentheredonethat]

Yeah. My four year old was super cute, then got SO ugly from about 1 to 3–no neck the entire time, and 1 to 3 inches butt high, no chest. Her two 1/2 year old full sister has stayed really nice looking, like a perfect small adult, until today. I just went out and saw her, and she has no neck and big bone points all over the place!

Both of them have stayed cute faces, but body parts seem to definitely grow at different rates. Apparently necks are the last to grow!

[foxhavenfarm]

Ugh, yes. Our two 2011 fillies that are still here I’d like to hide somewhere. They were both lovely foals, but now… :eek:

[rosebudranch]

The 3 year old I sold last year was quite an ugly duckling between being a yearling and three year old. He always had this huge head and ears and then he woul go through growth stages where he looked like he had a pot belly. Now he’s lookin much more grown up now with his new owner WASF.

My now coming two year old never really went through an ugly duckling stage… He got a little blocky headed in his first winter, but that’s about it!

My coming yearling is going through her blocky headed stage yet I attribute that partially to all the fluff from the winter.

[Sonesta]

Gads! I don’t even take photos of my babies from yearlings until late two year olds. They can be hideous! But then one day you walk out to that back pasture where you’ve kept them hidden for the past two years (just kidding!) and they are suddenly gorgeous again. What a relief that day is.

[Personal_Champ]

I just leave the blanket on my 10 month old and pretend!

Butt high, pot bellied, big jowls, short face, teacup muzzle, no neck… It has to get better!!

[Personal_Champ]

I just leave the blanket on my 10 month old and pretend!

Butt high, pot bellied, big jowls, short face, teacup muzzle, no neck… It has to get better!!

[ladyfreckles]

[QUOTE=Personal Champ;6778454]
I just leave the blanket on my 10 month old and pretend!

Butt high, pot bellied, big jowls, short face, teacup muzzle, no neck… It has to get better!![/QUOTE]

The short face is what kills me! She had a long pretty face.

She’s also going through some color changes in her coat so that’s uneven too. I’m waiting to take more pictures of her until I clip her face a bit and get rid of the long fuzzies under her jaw.

[Personal_Champ]

[QUOTE=ladyfreckles;6778702]
The short face is what kills me! She had a long pretty face.

She’s also going through some color changes in her coat so that’s uneven too. I’m waiting to take more pictures of her until I clip her face a bit and get rid of the long fuzzies under her jaw.[/QUOTE]

We are on a photo hiatus. Her face is only cute if viewed from dead, straight on, from 20 yards. I admire her from the driveway when I leave for work. It’s about 250 feet away, and she looks darn cute, lol. Did I mention that I am nearsighted and almost legally blind?

[TropicalStorm]

[QUOTE=Personal Champ;6778714]
We are on a photo hiatus. Her face is only cute if viewed from dead, straight on, from 20 yards. I admire her from the driveway when I leave for work. It’s about 250 feet away, and she looks darn cute, lol. Did I mention that I am nearsighted and almost legally blind?[/QUOTE]

LMAO

I had the ugliest yearling/two year old - weird small face, pony ears, and a downward appearance all the time. Everyone asked me “ohh, can i see your horse?” and I was like “ummm…hmmm…what horse?”
He turned out just fine

[ladyfreckles]

[QUOTE=TropicalStorm;6779778]
LMAO

I had the ugliest yearling/two year old - weird small face, pony ears, and a downward appearance all the time. Everyone asked me “ohh, can i see your horse?” and I was like “ummm…hmmm…what horse?”
He turned out just fine :P[/QUOTE]

I demand pictures as proof

I “know” my horse will be fine but I have to admit it’s a bit worrisome. I showed someone a picture of her and they asked “what happened to that other horse you were looking at, the other one was more majestic” (the last photos they’d seen were her yearling photos). Oh man.

Long Yearling:

Long two-year-old:

Fingers crossed that she’ll come back.

[rosebudranch]

I think she looks just fine!! But I completely understand what your feeling! My little girl was so odd looking for a month there she’s a long weanling now… But in the last week I’ve noticed her neck seemed to get longer again and she’s seemingly huge all of a sudden! But her head is still blocky … Ahh. But her daddy always throws gorgeous heads and her mom had a pretty cute head… I know it’s just her age!